Pierre Poilievre and Google Maps don't agree on where the new Communism memorial will be built

During an all-candidates debate in the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton last week, Stephen Harper's employment minister suggested local opposition to the Conservatives' controversial Victims of Communism memorial is fueled by "misinformation."

"Some have suggested it would be going on the front lawn of the Supreme Court," the Conservative candidate said.

"It will not be anywhere close to that. The proposal is to put it next to the parking lot for the Library and Archives on Wellington Street."

An EKOS poll in May found 82.7% Ottawa-area residents oppose the memorial. Overall, 77.4% of Canadians strongly oppose the memorial, including two-thirds of Conservative supporters.

Although Poilievre claims the memorial will be "nowhere close" to the Supreme Court, it is possible the meaning of "close" could be subjective.

Here is what that same area looks like from a slightly higher altitude:

While Poilievre is correct in stating that the memorial will not be built "on the front lawn of the Supreme Court," it is not clear if any critics ever suggested that in the first place.

The National Capital Commission's advisory committee on planning, design and realty suggested it could be "detrimental to the dignity" of Parliament Hill, located a few blocks away.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Beverly McLachlin, on the other hand, warned the "bleakness and brutalism" of the memorial "could send the wrong message within the judicial precinct."

Here is what the proposed site looks like at street-level view from the front door of the Supreme Court:

And while Poilievre may be unaware of the actual location of the memorial, other cabinet ministers seem as though they could be aware.

Here is what view of the proposed site looks like from Jason Kenney's perspective:

It is not clear why Poilievre would suggest the Library and Archives Canada parking lot is the closest landmark to the new memorial.

The Library and Archives building itself is closer to the proposed site of the Victims of Communism memorial. And even closer than that is the front lawn of the Supreme Court, as well as the Supreme Court building itself.

Here's the view of the proposed memorial site from the Library and Archives parking lot: